Puffy’s Tavern

Good little dive bar with good music, good beer choices, and friendly service.
We just popped in here for a drink with friends on our Tribeca quest to visit as many bars as possible. Puffy’s was one of our first stops in the middle of the day, maybe around 1pm. Our group of 4 were the only ones in the place. The TVs were showing soccer games (on mute) and a variety of music was playing from 90s to country.
When I asked where the restrooms were, the bartender pointed to two, but said the second one was a little more presentable. As a woman in a bar, I SO appreciate that, so THANK YOU! The bathroom was definitely clean, but my concern is what it might look like if it was Saturday at 1am rather than 1pm.
Regardless, it was a casual and divey little place, and I’d return.

Puffy’s Tavern is a nice break from all the swanky restaurants and bars in TriBeCa. This place is a no thrills, to the point bar. It’s a little dark, but it adds to the feel to it. Order a beer or cider from the bar tender and enjoy a chill evening catching up with friends. There’s a dart board in the back for you to enjoy or you can watch the people walk by Puffy’s hoping you’ll see Taylor Swift (her penthouse is across the street and she did go to Puffy’s once according to the bartender).

OK so there is no way a dive bar will get 5 stars from me but this place is a solid 4 star establishment. I came in late one night with a coupe of friends. The bartender was on point and didn’t delay my drinks; which of course was my purpose for being there. The entire place had a good feel. The customers were friendly and joyous but not loud or obnoxious. There is seating along the bar and some small tables on the edge. There is also a dart board in the back. They do have house darts so go in and have some fun. Music was very good and the lighting was not too dark but thankfully not at all bright either. Very friendly and I hope to make it back again — sorry I don’t have the name of the bartender he was friendly and cute — but taken. too bad (LOL).
They also make sandwiches which I was told are very good. Maybe I need to try this place during the day.

Nice cool small bar… good service and good music…
A place to come back!
Thumbs up!
:-)

I wish I could give this establishment 0 stars.
It was one of my friend’s last weekend (10÷24÷15) in NYC and after eating in Chinatown, we walked downtown chatting looking for someplace to stop and grab a drink. I work on Harrison street, pass Puffy’s every day, and have had multiple customers recommend I stop in-​so we did. I wish I could go back in time and change our decision.
Upon entering it’s nothing special, it was crowded because a work event was being held there-​no problem to us because we just stood by the bar. But the real issue, the reason that I made myself this account to review, is the bartender. She was downright nasty for no reason when we were nothing but polite to her.
We ordered, and after taking our orders she singled out one person in our group to ID (we were all of age, and ironically they happened to be the oldest-​though they were also male so I’m guessing women are rarely carded). When he asked «why me?» she rudely responded «because you look like you’re like, 12.» (keep in mind he’s 22, and wasn’t snarky in his question, just curious.)
After we were served another of my friends was putting her change away, and the bartender turned to her and said «you know, if you want to keep being served you’re going to have to tip, that’s just a fact.» Now, we were planning to order a few drinks and stay awhile, and would have tipped at the end of our tab. HOWEVER, regardless if we did or did not, you don’t treat customers this way. As someone who has worked in the service industry, you must treat customers with respect-​and if you come at them nasty and rude, you’re not going to be tipped (we didn’t tip her. Not after being treated like that.) We drank the drinks we paid for and got the hell out of there.
I understand everyone has off days here and there, and had she apologized it would have made a wold of difference. However, she didn’t, she was rude when we gave her no reason to be, and it’s unfortunate because I work only a few doors down and certainly would have recommended it to people and made it a «usual» spot. Alas, I will take my hard earned money elsewhere.
*Sidenote-​I can’t help feeling like she treated us this way because we were obviously the youngest people in there (though we were all of legal age). Either way, there’s no excuse for her behavior, and we’ll never come here again.

I visited for the first time last night for a happy hour. I like the laid back, neighborhood vibe. People/​staff were friendly. It is cozy but not too suffocating. There is a back area to chuck darts.
I kind of wish they served some of those prosciutto sandwiches because I was hungry last night.
This is definitely a spot I’d return to for an après work beer.

Great place to stop and relax! Good food, simple and healthly. Good, attentive service.
Good place for low key lunch.

A hidden Tribeca gem! The sandwiches alone would make a regular out of anyone but add to it friendly, attentive staff and great prices and you have perfection. WIN! WIN! WIN!
I highly recommend the Luisa but I have yet to try a sandwich I haven’t enjoyed. The sandwiches are made with the tastiest bread and great fresh ingredients.
The staff are quick, efficient and friendly making it a joy to lunch at Puffy’s but you can always grab a sandwich to go too.
Another great aspect of Puffy’s is their prices. They are very affordable. Happy Hour prices are offered most of the day ($ 4 for a beer) and their sandwiches are listed at $ 11 or less.
I highly recommend stopping in and enjoying some food and time at Puffy’s!

I was hoping to stop into a little dive bar for an afternoon beer. I didn’t like the vibe in here and the bartender was not very friendly. Maybe if you live in the neighborhood, this is one of the locals bar. I only saw one other guy there with his son. The bartender was really friendly with him. And actually continued his conversation with him and he wrote down the wifi password for me and he just handed it to me. He did mention I should use all caps and the password didn’t even work. And he didn’t even bother to ask. Life is too short to be paying $ 6 dollars for a crappy experience.
Thanks but no thanks!

Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers! Darts n beers!

Yana the bartender is amazing. Came here and she made me a Moscow mule and it was one of the best I ever had. She is friendly attentive and knows what she is doing. Will definitely be back here.

I was reading some reviews of my favorite places in the neighborhood that I love and live in. I came across Puffy’s Tavern and was shocked by the recent review by Rebekah. After reading the comment (seems personal) I felt compelled to write my very first Unilocal review.
I am a TriBeCa resident living in the area for the last 10 years. I frequent Puffy’s Tavern at least twice a week. The service is always wonderful, especially from Yana — who is attentive, engaging, pleasant and always greets us with a welcoming smile. She’s a pleasure to be around.
This place is a staple in the neighborhood. Friendly staff and great atmosphere. I highly recommend stopping in for a drink or bite to eat. You won’t regret it.

Solid lunch spot. $ 3 Heineken. AMAZING Italian sandwiches reasonably priced. Service is friendly, though sometimes forgetful (there is only one for the entire establishment). My coworkers and I come once a week.

Standard bar — nothing more /​nothing less.
Décor is horrible /​place looks a little beat up.
Unlike others we found the female bartender to be friendly and attentive.
Place is loud but that’s expected.
Five minutes after you leave this place you’ll forget you were there…

Came in on a Monday. Mellow crowd, typical beer selections, running about $ 3-​$ 8 a beer. Nothing crazy on the liquor option.
Music is classic/​modern rock hits with 3 TVs covering. Mixed crowd of accents & suits. Regulars afoot, chatting it up with the bartenders… the aroma of fruited beers lingers past as the thud of the dart board creeps the hum of 90’s alternative music.
I could keep going but fuck, it’s a bar… grab a drink or move along!

In a land as out-​of-​touch with reality as TriBeCa is, Puffy’s is a welcome dose of down-​to-​earth-​iness that this Unilocaler appreciates.
We had a holiday party here, and the staff could not have been funnier or nicer. And they make a damn. good. drink.
Love the wood floors, the high ceiling, and the windows looking out to Worth and Hudson streets. This is a great great great neighborhood bar.
Eats are also good. Give ‘em a try!

We were here for a private event and absolutely fell in love with it. The décor is super cool. A bit of everything, as you would imagine a fun fidi bar to be: darts in the back, some plush seating, mainly at the bar or stools and large flat screens if you needed to just zone out to a game for a bit.
My makers on the rocks was a smaller pour than I am used to, but it was just fine. Expect good service and a pretty cool joint to hang out for a few hours. Pretty cool ambiance, not exactly divey, but not exactly casual either. It’s an odd mix but a delightful one.

Wandering the streets of SoHo,
lunch was a no-​go,
until I stumbled upon Puffy’s Tavern.
Don’t be fooled by the bland exterior,
their sandwiches are anything but inferior.
Yes, at a place called Puffy’s.
An Italian sammich dream come true,
this will bring out the stallion in you.
Prosciutto, sopressata and fresh mozzerelle!
Salami, tomatoes, peppers hotter than hell!
A crispy bread or a flattened panini,
whatever you please is placed between these carbs neatly!
Channel Donatella, Giselle or Valentina.
Or be a Soprano, De Niro or Sofia!
The choices are endless, can’t you see?
When bread, meats and cheeses collide, how could you be more happy?
Puffy’s, I will forgive you for your weird ass name…
because when I enter your doors I’ve got meat on the brain.
Yum.

I agree 100% with Brad K. on this one — Puffy’s is a nice little dive with great staff, dim lighting, and a solid playlist ranging from RHCP to Rihanna, with some eclectic curveballs thrown in for good measure.
Aside from the $ 3 PBRs, they had Boddingtons and the part pale ale, part wheat beer, part cream ale Sixpoint Sweet Action on tap… nice! (Fun fact: did you know Sweet Action beer was named after a porn magazine? Neither did I, but our bartender did!) If you’re hungry, they serve individual pizzas starting at $ 6 for plain cheese — additional for toppings.
The available side space alongside the long bar counter is peppered with tables, and can get a little cramped with people standing around, so our group of nine made our way to the back area, played some darts, and had plenty of room to rest our coats and spread out.
All in all, a great place to hang after a late dinner and cap off our Friday night.

A nice unassuming bar on the west end of TriBeCa. Me and a friend walked in, wanting a pint and a food fix, and the patrons were fixated on us walking in at the front entrance… or so I assumed.
Turns out the champions league game, with Real Madrid playing some French team, was being shown on the tube, with the tube situated right by the entrance (and here I thought I was turning heads…)
No matter, I ordered a stein of Puffy’s ale and a De Niro (prosciutto and peppers on ciabatta). Everything was so so, definitely pulled a jaw muscle trying to bite through the ciabatta though. I was definitely a fan of the soccer bar atmosphere (oh the cheers when Christiano Ronaldo face-​planted into the grass). The bartender was extremely friendly and attentive. I’d definitely go back for a drink, but maybe I’ll eat at Zutto (right next door) instead of a sandwich at this place.